Call to Engage

Author: Tawny Weber

Publisher: HQN Books

Publication Date: June 27, 2017

Page Count: 384 pages

Buy it at: Amazon & Harlequin Books

Source: eBook kindly provided by TLC Book Tours

Audience: Adult

Genre: Military Romance

My thoughts:

I received this book for an honest review.

Elijah Prescott is a Navy SEAL who is recovering from an injury he suffered on his last mission. Despite being physically cleared to resume his duties, he feels that maybe he's not mentally ready and takes some time off to sort his life out. He heads back home to stay with his cousin, who owns a gym, and runs into his ex-wife.

Ava Prescott has turned her life around from what it was when she was married to Elijah. She teaches numerous classes at the gym and with the discipline she's learned to get her body in shape, she's buried the pain of her failed marriage.

Proximity, as well as the rekindling of their physical relationship, makes Elijah and Ava do some soul searching in regards to their marriage, one of them being that Ava never really accepted his chosen career. When she's pulled into an ongoing mission with Elijah's team to ferret out a traitor, she finally learns to accept him for who he is.

Call to Engage will pull the emotions out of you while keeping you turning the pages. There's action, intrigue, love, humor, and heartbreak. If you like your heroes to be strong Alphas and their women strong enough to handle them, you're going to definitely want to read this book.

I give Call to Engage 5 little birdies for a superior read. Tawny Weber is an author who knows her stuff when it comes to military books and it shows.

Blurb:

The Poseidon team are hard-bodied, fiercely competitive Navy SEALs. But when a sensitive mission goes disastrously wrong, three of the team's finest will have to trust their hearts and instincts to uncover the truth… 

Lieutenant Elijah Prescott should be spending his precious leave somewhere with sun, surf and scantily clad women. Instead, he's heading home with two goals in mind. Figure out exactly how his last assignment went to hell and almost killed him—and reconnect with the woman who might offer salvation. 

Ava Monroe has streamlined her life, eliminating every source of pain—including a marriage touched by tragedy. One glimpse of her ex and those good intentions turn to bad-girl desires. Her strategy: get over Elijah by getting under him again, sating herself until she can finally let go. But as betrayal within the rank of the SEALs turns deadly, there's no denying that her heart and her life are on the line. Elijah is the only man who can protect both…

The Playboy's Secret Virgin

Author: MS Parker & Tasha Fawkes

Published by: Safira Press LLC

Publications Date: June 5, 2017

Page Count: 240 pages (paperback)

Buy it at:   Amazon 

Source: eBook Kindly Provided by Authors ARC team

Audience: Adult

Genre: Contemporary

My Thoughts:

I received this book for an honest review. By the title alone, I figured that this book was going to be full of one hot, steamy sex scene after another once the heroine lost her virginity. While it does have some sex scenes, there was nothing too graphic if that bothers you.

What I liked​ about this book was the story. The authors tell it from both sides. Jane is a small town girl who goes to New York hoping to put her college education to use in the advertising field. She grew up in foster care and while she might be innocent, she's not naive to the ways of the world.

Anthony is a rich playboy who barely goes through the motions at Daddy's ad agency. His constant partying and having everything splashed across the tabloids has made dear old dad give him an ultimatum. What transpires is two people coming together with their baggage, working through it and coming out on the other side all the better for their problems.

This book has a HEA, but not so sickening sweet you're gagging.  I will definitely look for future books from these two.

I would have liked to seen a couple of characters fleshed out more, but maybe they are saving that for another book. For that alone, I give this book 4 1/2 little larks.

Blurb:

A hot shot billionaire playboy can be quite intimidating, especially for a plain Jane virgin like me. When the elevator doors open to my new boss glaring down at my disastrous coffee mishap on my first day at James Enterprises, the look of disgust on his handsomely chiseled face is menacing, knocking any hope for leaving him impressed right out the window. Or so I thought… Later that night when I’m coerced by my newfound office friend to have a few drinks at the local jazz club, I catch Anthony James’ attention from across the room and sparks fly. I try to resist the temptation—why would he possibly be attracted to a simple girl like me—but Anthony James always gets what he wants… is he deserving enough of my virginity?

Book Review: Rarity from the Hollow

Rarity from the Hollow

By: Robert Eggleton 

Published By: Dog Horn

Publication Date: December 2016

ebook - 284 pages

Buy it at Amazon (Paperback Edition, eBook Edition) or Dog Horn Publishing

Source: Provided by Author

Science Fiction

Eleven year-old Lacy Dawn lives in rural West Virginia with her abusive, PTSD-suffering father and her under-educated, defeated mother. After the sexual abuse and murder of her best friend, Lacy continues to play with her friend’s ghost. Lacy finds refuge in her friendship with DotCom, the robot who has been sent to cultivate a relationship with her and convince her to embark on a quest to save the universe. 

 Reading back over what I just wrote, I have to say that Rarity from the Hollow is even stranger than it sounds. Part of that strangeness is in the way the book is written. Eggleton divided the story into three nearly discrete sections which don’t seem to rely on each other very much. In the tragic first third of the book, the reader learns of the conditions in which Lacy Dawn is living. (This is the part with the physical and sexual abuse.) The second part of Rarity from the Hollow is where the reader meets DotCom, Lacy’s robot friend, and he helps “fix” her parents. Finally, Lacy accepts the quest to save the universe from destruction. The three act structure is pretty typical, but in Rarity from the Hollow they almost feel like separate stories. Lacy carries almost no baggage from the events of the first part of the book, and her parents, once cured, still don’t really act like parents. I felt little continuity through the story except for a persistent feeling of surreality. 

Book Review: Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn

Unbreak My Heart (Unbreak My Heart #1)
Author: Nicole Jacquelyn
Published by: Forever
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Page Count: 368 (paperback)
Buy it at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Source: eARC Kindly Provided by Publisher
Audience: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Adult


My Thoughts:
Unbreak My Heart is probably the most REAL and HONEST book that I've read in a long time. I've been stuck in a paranormal and edgy contemporary rut lately, and while I still love those books, I needed a break. Unbreak My Heart was like going home for me. I'm going to admit right now that I did not read the synopsis before jumping in. I accepted the book based on the cover alone, which was risky... but in the end, I'm so glad that I didn't read the synopsis because the surprises I was in store for only added to the heat-breaking highs and lows of the story.

Book Review: The Siren by Elicia Hyder

The Siren (The Soul Summoner Series #2)
Author: Elicia Hyder
Publication date: March 13, 2016
Print length: 314 pages
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Bought by the Reviewer
Audience: Adult (18+)
Genre: Paranormal Suspense

The Siren is book #2 in The Soul Summoner series and picks up right where book #1 ends. If you haven’t read the first book of the series, you won’t be lost because Ms. Hyder does a good job of recapping without weighing down the current story.

All but one of the missing victims from the first book have been found. When a current photo of the last victim proves that she's alive, Sloan, Warren, and Nathan head to Texas to find her. While there Sloan and Warren are hoping that she can shed some light on who and what they are, as well as what her connection, if any, is to them. 

Book Review: Desire After Dark by Marie Force

Desire After Dark (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #15)
Author: Marie Force
Published by: HTJB, Inc.
Publication Date: May 21, 2016
Page Count: 304 (paper back)
Buy it at: Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Kindly Provided by Author
Audience: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Adult

Desire After Dark is the 15th book in Marie Force's Gansett Island series. I am new to this series, and I will admit I was a little apprehensive at first about jumping in to a book that is part of such a long series. However, Desire After Dark is a beautiful love story that reads well as a stand-alone. That being said, I think it is definitely enjoyed best by those who have read the entire series and already know all of the characters. I am a lover of series. I hate letting characters go at the end of a book. Just from reading this one book alone, I can tell that Marie Force does a fabulous job of continuing a series by allowing new characters to tell their stories without letting go of the characters that readers have grown to love throughout the series.

Book Review: Dare to Take by Carly Phillips

Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6)
Author: Carly Phillips
Published by: CP Publishing
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Page Count: 292 (paperback)
Buy it at: Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Kindly Provided by Publisher
Audience: Adult (18+)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Dare to Take is the 6^th (and what appears to be the last) book in Carly Phillips’s Dare to Love series. I was a little nervous that I would be missing important pieces to the story since I have not read any of the other books in this series, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it reads well as a stand-alone. Ella and Tyler’s story is one of second chances.  He is the cliché older brother of her best friend, and Ella has always had a crush on him until the one and only night they spent together years ago after which he broke her heart. Now Tyler is there to rescue her, at his sister’s request, and he and Ella have a second chance at love. It’s a cute story, short and sweet, but there were elements that just felt shallow to me.

Book Review: Ride Hard

RideHard (Raven Riders #1)

Author:Laura Kaye

PublishedBy: Avon/Harper Collins

PublicationDate: April 26, 2016

PageCount: 384 pages (paperback)

Buyit at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Source:Kindly Provided by Publisher

Audience:Adult (18+)

Genre:Contemporary Romance

If I were to write this review in only three words, it would be this: Read. It. Now! In Ride Hard, Laura Kaye brings to life the sexy world of the inked up, leather-wearing, motor-cycle riding bad boys. They are hard,and built, sexy, and sinful. Men who have lived hard lives and wear the proof on their bodies, in their walks and talks, and in the set of their eyes. The men of the Raven Riders series do not disappoint, and the main character of Ride Hard, Dare Kenyon, is as sexy as they come in all of his bad-assed glory.  He’s the president of the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club, and for good reason.

Haven Randall is escaping an abusive father with the help of her best friend. She’s as cliché-ly sweet and innocent as they come, but some how manages to be likable. Violence brings her to The Raven Riders for protection,and these bad boys make it their mission to keep her safe. It’s not a new mission for them, but it becomes personal when Haven and her best friend Cora work their ways into the heart and soul of the club… and Dare finds himself unable to resist letting Haven into his own heart.

Book Review: My Demon's Destiny

My Demon Determined (My Demon #2)

By Nikita Jakz and Alicia Dawn

Published By: Self

Page Count: 137 pages

Release Date: May 2014

Buy it at Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble 

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult (not recommended for readers under 18)

Picking up where book 2 left off, we find Cole having words with a vampire and trying to tell Sera, the ever stubborn, to back off and let him handle it. She doesn't listen, but is of little effect in the situation. When she comes to, after being knocked for a loop, she finds her demon gone and is faced with a man who seems to know her. He claims to be, Caleb, a brother Cole has never mentioned. Her defenses are up, but she can do nothing but trust him for the moment until she can figure out how to find Cole.

Sera learns through Caleb that not only is Cole being held by the vampires, he knows how to access him. Sera isn't sure who to trust, but she has no one else to rely on, so she pins her hopes on Caleb. Caleb, a hot vampire in his own right, has his own agenda and he holds his cards close to the vest until he is ready to put his plan into place. Cole, along for the ride until he can figure out what to do, is oblivious to what is happening with his Seraphina. He's just glad she wasn't taken as well.

Book Review: The Soul Summoner

The Soul Summoner (The Soul Summoner Series #1)
Author: Elicia Hyder
Publication Date: November 4,2015
Page Count: 310 pages (Kindle Edition)
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: gift from author in exchange for an honest review
Audience: Adult (18+)
Genre: Paranormal Suspense

I was offered this book by the author for free, but before accepting I checked it out on Amazon. As soon as 
I read the blurb, I knew I had to read this. While I am a die hard romantic, I will read other genres if they catch my attention, which this book did.

Sloan Jordan is a young woman who has a unique ability. She can see peoples souls, the best and worst. She has kept her gift hidden, as it has caused her problems in the past, but when a new detective, Nathan McNamara, moves to town, she eventually tells him. Once he knows what she can do, he enlists her help with a case, which she reluctantly gives. Later he asks her to help with a cold case that he's been working on for most of his career. They work together and in the process meet Warren Parrish. Warren is quite the mystery man and Sloan finds herself in the middle of the two men. As I was reading this, I didn't know which man I hoped to win as both were characters I liked.

Book Review: Hour of the Lion

Hour of the Lion (Wild Hunt Legacy #1)

Author: Cherise Sinclair

Published By: VanScoy Publishing Group

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Page Count: 426 pages (paperback)

Buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult (18+)

Genre: Paranormal Erotica (ménage)

I have been a big fan of Cherise Sinclair’s "Masters of the Shadowlands" series, so when I saw a new series by her that I hadn’t ready yet, I scooped it up immediately, purchasing all 3 available books at once. This new series is far different from what I am use to reading of hers; instead of Masters and Sirs in a world of BDSM, "The Wild Hunt Legacy" books are a whole new world of shifters. I love paranormal books, and shifters are some of my favorites. So the thought of Cherise Sinclair’s dominant, alpha males in a shifter role truly intrigued me. As I began reading, I quickly learned that this was a whole new take on the shifter theory, from how they are born/created to their language, and even their culture. 

There are two main changes from the traditional shifter world to this new shifter experience that I absolutely loved. First of all, in the world of "The Wild Hunt Legacy", there are more male shifters born than female shifters. So it is not uncommon for male littermates to share their female love interest. You can imagine how I pitied those poor females, having to suffer the affection of not one, but two strong, dominant males. (Is the sarcasm dripping from my chin?) I’m a self-proclaimed kinkster and unashamed of it, so I willingly admit that I very much enjoyed the ménage theme throughout the book(s) in this series. Secondly, in this non-traditional shifter culture, littermates can be different species. Because of the mating practices in effect due to the shortage of females, all single males are obligated to mate with all single females during the full moon in an effort to keep the shifters from dying-out. This once a month event is known as "the gathering". Species are not only able, but even expected, to inter-mate with each other, so a female bear could very well give birth to a litter containing both bears and the species of the sire, should he not be a bear. Because of this, the shifter culture is one big family in itself, and that was interesting and fun to experience… not to mention sexy as hell during the gathering.

Blog Tour & Book Review: The Barter System

The Barter System
By: Shayne McClendon
Published By: Always the Good Girl LLC
Release Date: May 20, 2012
Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Source: Provided by Author (digital copy) & Purchased by Reviewer (print copy)
Audience: Mature (18+) Audiences Only
NOTE: This story contains explicit sexual scenes and language and is intended for mature audiences only. Do not read this novel if intense sexual situations offend you.

First things first - Happy Birthday to Author Shayne McClendon! Now, Shayne has graciously offered to supply some delicious little gifts for YOU in honor of her birthday. I didn't get as many responses to the two giveaways as I would have liked. So instead of announcing winners today, I'm keeping the giveaways open through the week and will select winners using random.or this weekend. So click on the link that applies to you and enter to win!

1. U.S. Only Giveaway: A Swag Pack including signed print copies of The Barter System, Damaged, and Not a Bride is being provided by Shayne. It's her birthday - but you get the gifts!! Enter HERE!

2. Non-U.S. Giveaway: Your choice from the same three books (The Barter System, Damaged, and Not a Bride) provided in the eBook format of your choice. Enter HERE!

AND....Here is the Rafflecopter Link for the Blog Tour Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Thoughts:
I have followed Shayne McClendon's facebook page, Always the Good Girl, for a few years now and become addicted to not only the amazing pictures she finds and edits but especially to her writing. When she started talking about The Barter System, I hit her up immediately and begged for a copy to read and review. Shayne didn't hesitate, she sent it to me immediately. That was two summers ago. *hangs head* Yes, it has take me that long to get my review done and the blog tour promoting the book is what pushed me to do it because I wanted desperately to be part of the blog tour. So THANK YOU Shayne, for the book and to Mackable Book Babes for letting me be part of the blog tour. 

Aside from having a bit of a fan-girly crush on Shayne, what drew me to The Barter System was the concept of the book. Riya plans to conduct research on male sexuality...by traveling across the nation and indulging in mini-relationships of sorts with eight different men. I was fascinated and curious to say the least. And for a girl like Riya, who is the farthest thing from a promiscuous and much closer to a "good girl", would she be able to keep up with her self-imposed guidelines? How would it change her? And most importantly, how could she NOT fall in love with each and every one of her subjects? I was a little apprehensive and beyond anxious to begin this book.

Book Review: My Demon Determined

Book Review: My Demon Determined
                                               

My Demon Determined (My Demon #2)

By Nikita Jakz and Alicia Dawn

Published By: Self

Page Count: 137 pages

Release Date: October 2013

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Adult (not recommended for readers under 17)

 

My Review:

The second installment in the My Demon trilogy is out, and what a fun ride! Cole and Seraphina are now on the run from the angels  and are forced to take refuge in hell. Hiding from her family is one thing, having Sera exposed to evil on a consistent basis is another. She is strong, but is she strong enough to resist the pull of evil she will now be surrounded by on a daily basis. Besides that, Cole’s demon is stronger there. He tends to come out at inopportune times and Sera learns much about him, but is it more than she bargained for?

I love Sera’s innocence and her wonder in all things. I also enjoyed her learning to come into her own. Sera discovers a wealth of strength when she needs it the most in dealing with Cole’s demon and his demon finds her intriguing. In fact, he sees her as a challenge, but one he wants to possess. Sera had me laughing and grinning when she challenged Cole in his demon form and brought him to his knees. The sex between the two is hot. I had to fan myself several times when they have a meeting of the minds and bodies.

Book Review: Blood Myth

Blood Myth
(Blood Myth Series Vol. 1)
By: Stacy A. Moran
Published by: The Art of Safkhet
Release date: Arpil 9, 2013
Genre: Erotic Fiction/BDSM
Source: Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon

My Thoughts:
Blood Myth is an intense and thrilling paranormal romance that will leave you breathless for more. The story and stage are set, a timeless battle between good and evil, parent and child, with free will the final arbiter of fate. The characters are rich and passionate, carrying you along with them through the setting of the stage into the first meeting of the hero and heroine of our tale.

Zak is a cocky, arrogant male with a violent past whose domineering attitude makes you hate him and shiver in delight at the same time. His need for control and domination to tame his darker nature extends into his interactions with those around him, especially those who shared his bed. Sorina is a fiery, independent woman of the world with a powerful destiny and the voice of an angel who fears the very thing she yearns for, the domination of a soul-consuming passionate love.

Book Review: Entwined with You

Entwined with You
(Crossfire #3)
By: Sylvia Day
Published by: Berkley Trade
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:
I keep saying the sex scenes bored me and they still do. (Same complaint as all the others in this series). Incredibly so. I think the sex aspect, though it is a very tight component of Gideon and Eva, is well over done. I was happy when the author started eluding to passionate moments between the characters. I was also happy that the constant arguing seemed to slow and they had begun to gain a greater maturity in handling situations, as well as just functioning better. 

Book Review: Reflected In You

Reflected In You
(Crossfire #2)
By: Sylvia Day
Published by: Berkley Trade
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:
I'm going to be brutally honest, but for the first half of this book I was bored and on a serious mindset of stopping reading. The story didn't rear to life until well past the middle of the book. For me as a reader, I'm shocked that I continued to read. I was far more aggravated with their constant arguing and the perpetual sex scenes. There are only so many times you can throw sex into a book before the reader grows bored and it becomes unbelievable. Once the story actually gained depth of more than sex and arguing, it became a page turner. 

Book Review: Bared to You

Bared to You
(Crossfire #1)
By: Sylvia Day
Published by: Berkley Trade
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:
Again, first time reader of this author, but I had heard so much hype about the books I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough to pick up book two and continue.

Eva Trammel just relocated in a new city closer to her mom and further from her father. She's a strong, assertive and well grounded female with a dark past. I'm sure most can relate with Eva as we all share similar qualities. She's a strong, driven character set on making her mark on her own merit alone and not on the coat tails of her step father. It is a highly commendable quality that I, as a reader, can relate to.

Then there is Gideon Cross. A high profile man world renowned for his business savvy and sex appeal but Gideon is far from having it all together as what initial appearances or impressions give. Inside he is carrying darkness and no one around him sees that until Eva bursts into his world and flat on her ass in the lobby of Crossfire. She sees HIM. 

Book Review: Ours to Love

Ours to Love
(Wicked Lovers #7)
By: Shayla Black
Published by: Penguin Group Inc.
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Genre: Erotic Fiction, Menange
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My thoughts:
The idea of this book intrigued me and pulled me in--I had never read a three-way before, and the men I like to read about in books have to be dominant men. I like the darkness and possessive nature that any fantasy is built on. The men we wouldn't put up with in our real life, but desperately love in our books.

Book Review: Being Me

Being Me
(Inside Out #2)
By: Lisa Renee Jones
Published by: Gallery Books
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Nobel

My Thoughts:
This book is the second book in the Inside Out Trilogy for Lisa Renee Jones. I immediately bought book two after finishing book one just yesterday. It left me hungry for more and book two did not disappoint. It picked up where book one left the reader hanging. I will say thank you to the author right now for that. As a reader, it made me very pleased to see no time jump and a quick continuation into where I was left at the edge of my seat.

Book Review: If I Were You

If I Were You
(Inside Out #1)
By: Lisa Renee Jones
Published by: Gallery Books
Release Date: September 13, 2012
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Source: Purchased/Owned by Reviewer
Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Nobel

My Thoughts:
I am a first time reader of Lisa Renee Jones, and after this book I can guarantee you it will not be my last book of hers--in fact, before attempting to write this review, I had placed my order for book two. Immediately from the start I was pulled into the mystery entwining Rebecca and how the author had woven the tale of pulling Sara McMillan in it. I won't lie, throughout the book I found myself measuring it against Fifty Shades of Grey. It was more of the style of writing for me that was similar than the story itself, but let me add that LRJ is leaps and bounds by far the better writer in comparison.